At this season of the year it is the custom in this land to set aside a certain day to be devoted to public and private thanksgiving An occasion for the recognition of Him who ‘maketh His sun to shine on the evil and good and sendeth His rain on the just and the unjust.
It is an institution similar to that which Jehovah commanded Israel to observe in remembrance of Deity’s bountiful blessings and providence.
The original thanksgiving feast was the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles A divinely instituted festival on which all male Israelites were compelled to appear before the lord to honor and recognize Him as the God who had cared for them in their journey through the wilderness.
It was celebrated in the Autumn of the year after the gathering of then harvests of grain, fruits and provisions It was a fitting time to express their gratitude and thanksgiving.
Of all the annual feasts it was the most elaborate and most Joyous, for we read that he who had not seen the joy at the feast of tabernacles had not seen much joy Coming at the end of their harvest labors, it offered an excellent occasion for the recognition of Him who had provided for their material welfare.
So much for the past, it was a wise institution, an excellent example for modern nations and a foretaste of a divinely ordained world-wide thanksgiving day, to be revived after the return of Christ in celebration of our deliverance from the bondage of sin and death.
The inspired prophet Zechariah (14, 9, 16-19) declares “it shall come to pass, that everyone of the nations that are left shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts, to keep the feast of tabernacles, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth, unto Jerusalem to worship, even upon them shall be no rain — this shall be the punishment on all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles’.
The greatest thanksgiving day the world has ever seen will then be celebrated, for all “the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”
That temple described by the prophet Ezekiel shall be a “house of worship for all nations,” for the “Lord alone will be exalted in that day” and the “Lord shall be King over all the earth, in that day there shall be one Lord and His name one.
When we read in Numbers 29 of the sacrifices made during the feast of tabernacles there is a significant peculiarity On the opening day there were thirty sacrifices, there were thirteen bullock s, fourteen lambs, two rams and one goat, on the second day there were twelve bullocks and one less each day, bullocks are typical of human power and human pride and human authority This decline in human pride and authority is confirmed by Paul (I Cor 15 24-28), as taking place under the reign of Christ “he shall put down all rule and authority and power, he shall reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet.”
Another feature of the feast of tabernacles were the booths, adorned with palm branches and willows of the brook We can see in the palm branches an emblem of our victory over death if worthy, and the willow trees portray the character of saints, who had to “drink of the brook,’ their humble and contrite spirit is required for divine approval.
When we picture the conditions that will then prevail on the earth, will there ever be a time more appropriate for world wide thanksgiving It will be a time of rejoicing truly, the saints will have passed through their wilderness of sin, the nations will have passed through their sea of affliction, the Jews also will have found and recognized their long looked for Messiah (Hosea 12 9, 10) “they look upon him whom they pierced”
Now we can appreciate the Master’s remark, “blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God’ and his promise ‘I appoint you a kingdom, that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom” picture then how enjoyable it will be to have the company of immortal guests, to associate with the prophets and patriarchs of old, to renew again the friendship and love of those who have fallen asleep in Christ.
That will be a glorious day of thanksgiving, “when all men shall know Thee from the least to the greatest,’ when the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, and “praise be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.”
Then, let us observe not just one day of thanksgiving, but let us offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving continually.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One